Background
Kazu Wakita was born on June 7, 1908 in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan.
(Picture Masterpieces Series in Japan)
Picture Masterpieces Series in Japan
https://www.amazon.com/Bun-Pan-Russian-Folktale-Masterpieces/dp/4834000575/?tag=2022091-20
1995
和 脇田
Kazu Wakita was born on June 7, 1908 in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan.
During his time at school, Kazu Wakita became acquainted with Tameshige Shodai, a well-known Japanese artist, who gave him first guidance in charcoal drawing and oil painting. In 1923 Wakita dropped out of school to accompany his family to Berlin, where they worked for the Mitsubishi Co. In Berlin he attended Max Rabeas painting school and in 1930 graduated from the Berlin State School of Fine Arts
In 1931 Kazu Wakita returned to Japan. Upon his father's death, he took over his trading company in Tokyo, running it for the next 10 years. During this time, he opened a studio in Tokyo's Kugahara quarter and continued to exhibit his works at various important shows, winning the first prize at the 13th Emperor Exhibition. Displayed his paintings at Taiten and Kofukai exhibitions, receiving special prizes at the Kofukai exhibition of 1935 and 1936, and became a member of Kofukai Art Society. Kazu Wakita later turned away from official exhibitions and presented his paintings at the Second Society's Nika Exhibitions.
In 1936, Kazu Wakita was one of the founders of the Shineisaku-ha-kyA´kai (New Creation Group). In 1938 he went to Shanghai in occupied China and later to the Philippines to work as a military artist, before he returned in 1944. When his studio was burned he lost most of his pre-war works. Together with some fellow painters, he was evacuated to Fujino village near Sagamiko (now Sagamihara) in Kanagawa Prefecture.
After the end of the war Kazu Wakita established a new studio in the Setagaya district, and was engaged in initiating the Japan Art Association for a democratic understanding of art. As one of the first Japanese post-war artists he participated in international exhibitions, for instance in Sao Paulo, Pittsburgh and New Delhi.
Back in Japan, Kazu Wakita became a lecturer for printmaking at the Tokyo University of the Arts and was appointed professor in 1968. In the 1970s and 80s Wakita was honored by various exhibitions and books concentrating on his more recent works. In the 1980s he made trips abroad to the United States and various major cities in Europe.
In 1991, the Wakita Museum of Art was opened in the town of Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture. The last decade of his life was marked by major exhibitions world-wide.
Kazu Wakita's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from $182 USD to $5,849 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork. The current record price for this artist at auction is $5,849 USD for "Flowers", sold at Mainichi Auction.
(Picture Masterpieces Series in Japan)
1995
